YORK, Maine There were familiar faces at the first meeting for the York Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee on Monday, April 12, where participants introduced themselves and discussed next steps to achieve their committee goals with independent contractor CivicMoxie.
Along with introductions, representatives from CivicMoxie Susan Silberberg and Sue Kim announced the launch of a comp plan community engagement website. This site will serve as a hub for project information, updates on the plan and for members of the public to share their input. You can sign up to receive email updates and weigh in on specific topics through online surveys.
During the meeting, Committee Member Jud Knox asked if older adults will have access to mechanisms other than the website to express their opinions.
YORK, Maine In what is likely to be her last appearance before the Board of Selectmen in her role as town clerk/tax collector, Mary-Anne Szeniawski graciously accepted the board s remarks of gratitude Monday night.
Szeniawski, who has served the town since 1979, said she shares credit for all her good work with Deputy Clerk/Tax Collector Mary Indiano, who is retiring after 40 years of service. Behind every good woman is a good woman, she said.
Szeniawski, who announced in January that she won t seek reelection, appeared before the board Monday to provide an update on protocols to be followed in the May 22 election. Public health precautions will remain in effect, including social distancing of 6 feet and mask-wearing strongly suggested, Szeniawski said. Only two people declined to wear masks at the town s polling place during last fall s election, she said.
York selectmen endorse warrant articles ahead of town vote
By Dan Bancroft
YORK, Maine In preparation for the town s May 22 vote, the Board of Selectmen has recommended that voters approve 72 draft warrant articles dealing with the municipal operating budget and special general referendum.
The selectmen took preference votes Monday night on the articles, which were previously discussed, debated and recommended by the Budget Committee or, where appropriate, the School Committee.
Among the warrant articles considered were No. 5, to raise and appropriate up to $130,820 for the salary and benefits of the elected Town Clerk/Tax Collector position; No. 52, to appropriate up to $750,000 to replace lighting throughout all York school buildings with LED fixtures; No. 62, to approve funding up to $550,000 for construction improvements on Southside Road; No. 64, to approve funding up to $425,000 for the Long Beach Seawall and Sidewalk Replacement project; and No. 70, to authori
YORK, Maine Although the Long Sands Beach seawall took a beating during last week’s storm, Town Manager Steve Burns said the new barrier held up well.
“You could really see the difference,” Burns said, describing how the storm surge beat down on the new construction, with little or no ill effect.
That was the good news.
How the repair project will be paid for continues to cause concern.
Triggered by massive storms in 2017 and 2018, the seawall repairs are expected to cost several million dollars. As previously reported, Director of Public Works Dean Lessard had anticipated most of the cost would be reimbursed by state and federal funds; however, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has still not authorized payments.
YORK, Maine The town s Board of Selectmen tackled a full agenda at Monday night s meeting, which stretched well beyond the normal 10 p.m. time limit, even after Chair Todd Frederick pushed some agenda items off to the Feb. 8 meeting.
Most of the meeting s first hour was dominated by a report on COVID-19 vaccination by York Hospital s Erich Fogg.
But there were several other noteworthy items thereafter:
Ambulance contract awarded
The contract award between the town and York Ambulance service was introduced for discussion by Town Manager Steve Burns.
“This is one of the best buys that the town has,” Burns said, noting that “any service we receive, we spend a little bit of money and receive tremendous value.”